How to Do Philosophy
Can you learn how to speak a foreign language, drive a car, make a meal or tie your shoes
just by reading about it in a book? Obviously not.
You have to do it.
So too with philosophy.
What follows is a guide to help you on your way . . .
How to Attend Class
If you are a new student, it can sometimes be difficult to get the most out of
attending class. At one extreme your approach might be trying to write down every single word
that your professor utters. This is a bad strategy because it does not allow you any time to digest
any of the material and because copious note taking fails to delineate between the mundane and the
essential. You will, in other words, miss the very reason for why you are in the classroom. At the
other extreme you might just sit back and try to absorb what you hear. Of course this is
problematic since the moment you leave the room you are guaranteed to forget everything.
Complicating the matter of trying to get the most out of a lecture is the issue of classroom
dynamics. You might be in a class where no one talks or there might be one person who
monopolizes the time by constantly asking questions or making comments. In both situations you
may be apt to tune out and try to just make it through a very long hour. The room might be hot or
cold, or there might be someone sniffling and sneezing beside you. You might be in a bad mood,
tired, hung over, sick, or just plain bored. Your instructor might be dynamic or dull. He might just
read from the textbook or write on the blackboard and mumble with her back to the room. Still,
you might luck out by having a vibrant instructor who motivates you and who presents you with
handouts and other supporting materials. Each course you take will be different, and each class in
each course can be different, so you want to be consistent in your approach by creating a personal
rhythm that works best for your needs week in and week out. Here then are some simple
suggestions:
1. Come with sufficient paper and pen (of course!), but also do not forget to bring the
textbook and a highlighter pen to identify passages in the book or in your own notes that
are significant. If you are not planning on keeping the textbook or want to keep it clean,
consider use a pencil to put light marks in it, or use post-it notes to "index" the relevant
passages.
2. If there is assigned reading, do it before class, not during! If you do not have an opportunity
to read everything before class, try at least to glance at the material so that you are not
completely lost as to the topic of the day.
3. Read the materials after class as well. You may find that the lecture helped you get a
clearer picture of what was being said in the book. This is especially the case with older
works that are not written in modern English. Furthermore, in some classes, it may actually
be more useful to read the text after the lecture so that if you did not understand the lecture,
it might make more sense to you from the book and vice versa.
4. Ask yourself questions while you are reading. Do you agree with the author? Do you
understand what he or she is saying? Do you understand all the terminology?
5. When taking class notes, be sure to capture the following details:
• the date and main theme of the lecture.
• Write down main points. Feel free to use arrows or flow diagrams to link the
points up to each other (or to previous lectures).
• Make reference of any pages or passages instructor refers to.
• See how these notes fit in with the last lecture and how they might suggest
where the lecture will be going next class.
• Jot down any due dates and so on.
6. Make use of your time with the professor. Ask questions in class but be aware that there are
such things as "stupid questions." These include asking about information on the course
outline (look at it yourself) and questions that show you have not bothered to read the
material. Instead it is quite appropriate to raise your hand and say “I wasn’t sure what the
author meant by such and such on page 16, but it seems to me that he is saying . . . (and
state the issue in your own words). Am I on the right track?" This shows (a) you have been
reading, (b) you have been thinking about what you have been reading, and (c) you are
keen enough to want to know more. Do this sort of thinking and questioning before you
start trying to impress everyone with your own views on the world. You need to deliberate
or challenge the source material before you can try to show why your own argument is
better. I guarantee you will impress the professor too.
7. This next point may sound simplistic, but do not be in a hurry to leave. Often at the very
end of class when people are picking up their books and putting on their coats, the
professor may shout out some important information such as the fact there is a quiz next
week worth 95 percent of your mark.
8. When studying for an exam, rewrite your notes trying to put them into your own words. If
you take copious remarks, you may want to consider summarizing them again. Highlight or
put asterisks (*) at key points. Do not forget to put down objections or key terms, or further
defend the points that you have written down. Try to accomplish these tasks on the day of
the lecture so that it remains fresh in your mind.
9. Do not be afraid to compare your notes with someone else from the classroom.
10. And do not be afraid to chat about your notes or confusions with your professors during
their office hours. That is what they are there for!
Can you learn how to speak a foreign language, drive a car, make a meal or tie your shoes
just by reading about it in a book? Obviously not.
You have to do it.
So too with philosophy.
What follows is a guide to help you on your way . . .
How to Attend Class
If you are a new student, it can sometimes be difficult to get the most out of
attending class. At one extreme your approach might be trying to write down every single word
that your professor utters. This is a bad strategy because it does not allow you any time to digest
any of the material and because copious note taking fails to delineate between the mundane and the
essential. You will, in other words, miss the very reason for why you are in the classroom. At the
other extreme you might just sit back and try to absorb what you hear. Of course this is
problematic since the moment you leave the room you are guaranteed to forget everything.
Complicating the matter of trying to get the most out of a lecture is the issue of classroom
dynamics. You might be in a class where no one talks or there might be one person who
monopolizes the time by constantly asking questions or making comments. In both situations you
may be apt to tune out and try to just make it through a very long hour. The room might be hot or
cold, or there might be someone sniffling and sneezing beside you. You might be in a bad mood,
tired, hung over, sick, or just plain bored. Your instructor might be dynamic or dull. He might just
read from the textbook or write on the blackboard and mumble with her back to the room. Still,
you might luck out by having a vibrant instructor who motivates you and who presents you with
handouts and other supporting materials. Each course you take will be different, and each class in
each course can be different, so you want to be consistent in your approach by creating a personal
rhythm that works best for your needs week in and week out. Here then are some simple
suggestions:
1. Come with sufficient paper and pen (of course!), but also do not forget to bring the
textbook and a highlighter pen to identify passages in the book or in your own notes that
are significant. If you are not planning on keeping the textbook or want to keep it clean,
consider use a pencil to put light marks in it, or use post-it notes to "index" the relevant
passages.
2. If there is assigned reading, do it before class, not during! If you do not have an opportunity
to read everything before class, try at least to glance at the material so that you are not
completely lost as to the topic of the day.
3. Read the materials after class as well. You may find that the lecture helped you get a
clearer picture of what was being said in the book. This is especially the case with older
works that are not written in modern English. Furthermore, in some classes, it may actually
be more useful to read the text after the lecture so that if you did not understand the lecture,
it might make more sense to you from the book and vice versa.
4. Ask yourself questions while you are reading. Do you agree with the author? Do you
understand what he or she is saying? Do you understand all the terminology?
5. When taking class notes, be sure to capture the following details:
• the date and main theme of the lecture.
• Write down main points. Feel free to use arrows or flow diagrams to link the
points up to each other (or to previous lectures).
• Make reference of any pages or passages instructor refers to.
• See how these notes fit in with the last lecture and how they might suggest
where the lecture will be going next class.
• Jot down any due dates and so on.
6. Make use of your time with the professor. Ask questions in class but be aware that there are
such things as "stupid questions." These include asking about information on the course
outline (look at it yourself) and questions that show you have not bothered to read the
material. Instead it is quite appropriate to raise your hand and say “I wasn’t sure what the
author meant by such and such on page 16, but it seems to me that he is saying . . . (and
state the issue in your own words). Am I on the right track?" This shows (a) you have been
reading, (b) you have been thinking about what you have been reading, and (c) you are
keen enough to want to know more. Do this sort of thinking and questioning before you
start trying to impress everyone with your own views on the world. You need to deliberate
or challenge the source material before you can try to show why your own argument is
better. I guarantee you will impress the professor too.
7. This next point may sound simplistic, but do not be in a hurry to leave. Often at the very
end of class when people are picking up their books and putting on their coats, the
professor may shout out some important information such as the fact there is a quiz next
week worth 95 percent of your mark.
8. When studying for an exam, rewrite your notes trying to put them into your own words. If
you take copious remarks, you may want to consider summarizing them again. Highlight or
put asterisks (*) at key points. Do not forget to put down objections or key terms, or further
defend the points that you have written down. Try to accomplish these tasks on the day of
the lecture so that it remains fresh in your mind.
9. Do not be afraid to compare your notes with someone else from the classroom.
10. And do not be afraid to chat about your notes or confusions with your professors during
their office hours. That is what they are there for!